Fuel cell stack

Abstract

A fuel cell stack is provided which includes at least a fuel cell stack body with a plurality of unit fuel cells, wherein each unit fuel cell includes a bipolar plate and a membrane electrode assembly, which are alternatingly stacked in a stacking direction, a first and second terminal plate sandwiching the fuel cell stack body, wherein the first and second terminal plate are adapted to collect the electric energy generated by the fuel cell stack body, a first and second end plate which sandwich the first and second terminal plate, and a housing, wherein the housing includes at least a bottom plate, a stack enclosure configured to cover the side faces of the fuel cell stack, and a top plate, wherein the first end plate is configured as the bottom plate of the housing and is provided with at least one protruding connection element which protrudes laterally from the first end plate and is configured to connect the stack enclosure to the first end plate.

1 . Fuel cell stack comprising at least
 a fuel cell stack body with a plurality of unit fuel cells, wherein each unit fuel cell comprises a bipolar plate and a membrane electrode assembly, which are alternatingly stacked in a stacking direction,   a first and second terminal plate sandwiching the fuel cell stack body, wherein the first and second terminal plate are adapted to collect the electric energy generated by the fuel cell stack body,   a first and second end plate which sandwich the first and second terminal plate, and   a housing, wherein the housing includes at least a bottom plate, a stack enclosure configured to cover the side faces of the fuel cell stack, and a top plate,   wherein the first end plate is configured as the bottom plate of the housing and is provided with at least one protruding connection element which protrudes laterally from the first end plate and is configured to connect the stack enclosure to the first end plate.   
     
     
         2 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding connection element comprises at least one fastening interface for securing the stack enclosure to the at least one protruding connection element and thereby to the first end plate. 
     
     
         3 . Fuel cell stack according to  claims 1 , wherein the stack enclosure abuts on top of the at least one protruding connection element or on a side face of the at least one protruding connection element. 
     
     
         4 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding connection element includes a groove. 
     
     
         5 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one sealing element is provided which is configured to provide a seal between the at least one protruding connection element and the stack enclosure, wherein preferably the sealing element is arranged in a groove. 
     
     
         6 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one sealing element is arranged at the at least one protruding connection element and/or at the stack enclosure, wherein preferably the at least one sealing element is fixed to the protruding connection element or the stack enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protruding connection element is configured as a flange extending along the entire perimeter of the first end plate. 
     
     
         8 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end plate comprises a base portion and a step portion, wherein the at least one protruding connection element is arranged at the base portion, and wherein step portion comprises input and output ports and/or terminals for operation of the fuel cell stack. 
     
     
         9 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the first end plate comprises at least one reinforcing element, particularly for reinforcing the first end plate against deformation forces. 
     
     
         10 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the first end plate is made of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . Fuel cell stack according to  claim 10 , wherein at least the first end plate is at least partially in direct contact with the terminal plate, and wherein the at least one end plate comprises at least one surface structure element which is adapted to avoid any current creepage between the terminal plate and a conductive element of the end plate.